Mark Stoops may make changes to spring practice schedule

Since this is his seventh spring practice at Kentucky, Mark Stoops has to know that Kentucky weather can be unpredictable but also cold in early March to even mid-April, especially in the mornings.

Yet the head coach chose to have spring practices early three days per week and that often has forced UK inside to practice.

It was that way again Tuesday before Stoops got upset that running back Kavosiey Smoke and receiver Lynn Bowden got “banged up” on the artificial turf in UK’s indoor facility.

“I had to get out of the indoor,” Stoops said. “I got to rethink practicing in the spring in the morning.”

Stoops is not going to reconsider the earlier starting date for UK spring practice that he instituted. He could easily practice in the afternoon — when it is normally warmer — like UK does during the season. However,

Stoops explained again Tuesday that the morning practices have benefitted players academically.

“We do so much better academically in the spring,” Stoops said. “ But with the weather being so cold in the morning I might have to rethink it because that indoor, I just can’t get the work done in there. With that track around there, it’s so tight and that turf, I got two guys hurt today.”